CONTINENTAL BLOCKADE: On 16th May 1806, England declared the blockade of all French coasts on the At...

CONTINENTAL BLOCKADE: On 16th May 1806, England declared the blockade of all French coasts on the At...
CONTINENTAL BLOCKADE: On 16th May 1806, England declared the blockade of all French coasts on the Atlantic Ocean, North Sea. In retaliation, Napoleon signed the Berlin decree, 21st November 1806, declaring the British islands under continental blockade. The English responded with the decree signed by King Georges III, referred to in the present letter, 11th November 1807, obliging any neutral vessel to pay rights to the British customs, and a month later Napoleon signed the Milan decree stating that any vessel paying such rights to the British would be considered an enemy and would be arrested. An excellent selection of five documents related to the continental blockade, comprising GEORGE III (1738-1820) King of the United Kingdom 1760-1820. D.S., George R., at the heading, one page, large folio, St-James«s Court, 13th April 1808, to Lubbock & Co. The partially printed document, signed by George III as King, is a Royal patent permitting for six months that their vessels could move from Cadiz, Ayamonte and Sanlucar in Spain, to London«s port, with the wine and other cargoes authorized to be imported according to the 11th November 1807 decree, and won«t be affected by the blockade which only applies vessels with weapons and war material cargoes. Countersigned by Robert Jenkinson, 2nd Earl of Liverpool (1770-1828) British Prime Minister 1812-27, and Secretary of State for war 1809-12. The document bears to the front a paper seal affixed and a blind embossed seal. With blank integral leaf. Few small tears to the edges, not affecting text or signatures. Together with MORTIER EDOUARD (1768-1835) Marshal of France, Duc de Treviso. Prime Minister of France 1834-35. Four very good Ls.S., Mortier, eleven pages in total, 4to, Lille, Schwerin and Anclam, between 15th November and 20th December 1806, to General Michaud. The first letter includes a six lines annotation in Mortier«s hand. In his capacity as Commander of the 8th corps of the Grande ArmŽe, Mortier orders Michaud to accelerate the troops« march in order to join him earlier and states in part `..the Prussian corps have no hope of being rescuedÉif they misunderstand the situation and refuse to accept our conditions, they will have to understand that no capitulation will be offered and that we will have no care towards them..« further forwarding the Emperor orders `on the main road towards Bremen, take possession of that city in the name of H.M. The Emperor of the French and King of Italy ,instruct that justice will be given and taxes received in his name. He will sequester all English warehouses..« and Mortier annotates in his hand `You will make your troops stop and sleep in Hannover.. I will join the 8th Corp at Ulzen. I intend to cross the Elbe the 18th or 19thÉ Colonel Clement must keep his mission secret.«. In the second letter Mortier states in part `According to the orders I have received from H.M. the Emperor, all kinds of communication with England must be defended, all English goods, whoever they belong to, must be confiscated, and all English arrested and sent to France. The navigation on the Elbe and Weser rivers forbidden to any nation..«. Mortier insists once more on Napoleon«s orders on the third letter and states `The Emperor orders repeat and insist on the strict execution of his decree related to the continental blockade É His Majesty«s wish is that no English cargo can go through Altona, nor Hamburg, nor any other locationÉNo English good, nor colonial ones can go through, All letters to England, written by English, must be confiscated..« In the last two letters Mortier keeps on sending the orders received by Napoleon, all related to the continental blockade. VG, 5 £1000-1200